Lift station proposal receives muddled reception

As the proposed Lift Station 87 building has continued to evolve, public frustration has been a rare constant for the oft-changing project.

The leaders behind the Lift Station 87 project held a community workshop Monday regarding the latest design. The workshop was necessary because the proposed design will need a waiver from the city to move forward, as the midpoint of the roof is 45 feet high — 10 feet taller than the maximum height allowed in the code.

Accounting for the two belfries included in the most recent design, the highest point of the building is more than 64 feet tall.

Robert Garland, the project manager with engineering firm McKim and Creed, said the most recent design was arrived at after consultation with nearby residents and the city’s Urban Design Studio. The building, 7,444 square feet in total, is modeled after the historic Hover Arcade building, which served as city hall in the early 20th century.

The other contributing factor to the building’s size is practical, as the city directed the engineers to build a lift station capable of withstanding a Category 3 storm surge earlier this year. The directive was a significant departure from the earlier plans for the wastewater facility, which was originally conceived of as an underground structure.

Garland said the taller structure and the pitched roof was necessary to protect essential equipment and allow for necessary maintenance. He said the team experimented with shorter designs and a flat roof, but that the aesthetics of that building were less appealing.

Some residents near 1900 Mound St., the Lift Station 87 site, are OK with the proposed height as long as the project is completed and the design and surrounding landscaping are adequate. Others at Monday’s workshop were hesitant to embrace the building outlined, which would stand taller than the nearby condominium complexes and other structures in the area.

Garland said he understood any frustration, but that he was trying to satisfy everybody while correcting earlier missteps associated with the project.

“I can't take back what was promised five, six years ago,” Garland said. “We're trying to do what's best for the residents.”

For more information on the Lift Station 87 project, pick up a copy of Thursday's Sarasota Observer.

Contact David Conway at [email protected]